TOURNAMENT TEAM POLICY

PURPOSE

Recognize that tournament play is a desired level of competition by many players and coaches at the U-8 through U-12 level.

Coach selection, tournament team formation and tournament play require a process and a set of guidelines to help ensure quality coaching, equitable team formation, issue resolution and follow through on the goals and objectives of DYS.

PHILOSOPHY

Tournament experience should be positive and enjoyable to DYS players and coaches. With the sole purpose to expose the players to match play, not winning.

Coaches shall be responsible for providing fair and equitable distribution of playing time. (Equal time for all)

The team formation process shall give equal consideration to all U8, U10, & U12 players in the age group within reasonable boundaries.

If coaching is available the team formation process shall be viewed as a means to place players on teams, not as a means to eliminate players from tournament play. Every effort will be made to provide each player who wished to participate an opportunity to play.

Additional efforts will be made to get as many Danvers teams in the Danvers Invitational Tournament as possible.

ADMINISTRATION

The Tournament Team Program (TTP) will be administered by the Tournament Team Committee (TTC). The TTC shall oversee the TTP (i.e., team formation process, coach selection, player notifications, etc.)

Disputes resulting from participation in the TTP shall be arbitrated by the Committee. If still unresolved, such disputes will be submitted to the DYS Board of Directors.

If necessary, the TTC may reserve spots in upcoming tournaments, providing deposit monies form DYS funds to be reimbursed to DYS when teams are formed.

COACH SELECTION

The TTC Coordinator will notify all U8, U10, and U12 coaches via email, website announcements and other applicable means of the tournament coaching application period and process. Applications should be submitted prior to team formation. Applications from qualified individuals not currently coaching in the age group will also be considered by the TTC.

All non-affiliated coaches must register with MYSA and DYS and submit CORI screening information per DYS and MYSA policy.

Standard DYS Coaches Application forms may be used. Applicants should indicate the age group for which they are applying and their current role in DYS. A brief summation of experience and qualifications should be included.

Returning TTC coaches and current U8 & U10 U12 coaches with applications on file may notify the TTC via email to the TTC Coordinator.

The TTC will consider the written application and past DYS experience to select coaches.

The final coaching selection will be made after team formation in order to match the coach with their child’s team.

All potential coaches may be invited to participate in the team selection process at the discretion of the TTC.

In the event multiple coaches for a specific age group occurs beyond the necessary requirement and a decision can’t be made to choose the coach, the following format shall be used to select the coach:

License level (i.e., G, F, E, D)

Tournament coaching experience

Coaching experience

DYS involvement

Clinics and other experience

TOURNAMENT TEAM FORMATIONU8 Boys & Girls

For U8 DYS TTC will coordinate, promote, and inform parents and coaches that registration is open for each tournament and will direct players to register through DYS registration system. Coaches are encouraged to remind their teams as well.

A U-08 player may be placed on a U-10 when all of the following circumstances exist:

The Intramural coaches indicate the player can compete at the U-10 level both physically and mentally.

The player’s parents consent.

There is a need to fill the U-10 roster, and no true U-10 player will be denied a roster spot as a result.

Failure to add U8 player to U-10 roster will prevent U-10 team from fielding a team

The TTC will form balance teams only, using the most recent player ranking score.

Where possible and appropriate, the TTC may keep fall teams intact for the spring season if a review of spring only applications indicates that all players can be placed on age- and competitively–appropriate teams. At the discretion of the TTC, fall teams may be disbanded and teams reformed if needed to make appropriate placement and create competitive teams.

U10-U12 Boys & Girls

Teams will initially be formed for the fall tournament season. For U10 & U12 Travel teams, roster development for Labor Day and Columbus Day Tournaments will begin after notification of Travel rosters through the DYS registration system. Roster development for Veterans Day for U10 will begin 6-8 weeks before the date of the Tournament through DYS registration system. For early Spring tournaments, roster development will be held from Late February through Mid-March through the DYS registration system, and for Memorial Day, registration will begin 6-8 weeks before the tournament through DYS registration system.

For U10 and U12 age groups, DYS TTC will first ask all Travel coaches if they intend to enter their teams into the tournament in question. If yes, that team will be allowed to play together for the tournament in question. If no, TTC will coordinate, promote, and inform parents that registration is open for each tournament and will direct players to register through DYS registration system. Coaches not entering their team directly are encouraged to remind their teams as well that tournament play is available.

Coaches are encouraged to confirm that most of their players will play in the tournament prior to communicating with TTC that they intend to enter their team and play together as a team.

For players whose team is not being entered in a tournament, the TTC will work to place all registered players, including but not limited to placing them on existing or creating tournament only teams.

It is possible that a travel team opting to play together will have players added to their roster for tournament play so that no players in an age group are left out.

Where possible and appropriate, the TTC may keep fall teams intact for the spring season if a review of spring only applications indicates that all players can be placed on age- and competitively–appropriate teams. At the discretion of the TTC, fall teams may be disbanded and teams reformed if needed to make appropriate placement and create competitive teams.

Teams will be reviewed prior to each tournament weekend and adjusted if required.

After completion of team formation, player movement between teams and/or recruitment of additional players must be approved by the TTC Coordinator.

No tryouts are to be held.

Minimum roster size shall be 9; maximum shall be 12 or as limited by tournament rules.